Rabobank Recognizes Bimbo’s Sustainability Efforts
Rabobank, a leading global food and agribusiness bank, has included Grupo Bimbo among the recipients of its annual Food & Agribusiness (F&A) North America Leadership Awards, for its sustainability strategy.
The Rabobank Award for Leadership in Sustainability celebrates an organization that has taken major strides in business, environmental, social and governance sustainability, the organizers say. The 2019 award is given to Grupo Bimbo, the Mexico City-based international baking products manufacturer that is also an industry leader in driving sustainability in its supply chain and focusing on renewable energy sources.
In addition to consistently improving the nutritional profiles of its products, the company has announced its commitment to using 100% renewable electricity by 2025. It has drastically reduced its CO2 emissions and operates 71 self-sufficient solar rooftops, including the largest in Chile and South America. Grupo Bimbo was named a 2018 and 2019 Energy Star Partner of the Year by the U.S. EPA for its U.S. operations and was included on the 2019 List of the World’s Most Ethical Companies by the Ethisphere Institute, according to Rabobank.
“It is an honor for me to receive this award on behalf of the more than 138,000 associates around the world who share a common mission: to nourish a better world. Every business decision we make must support our purpose – to build a sustainable, highly-productive and deeply humane company. This important recognition inspires us to continue working on this path, taking care of the environment and supporting the communities in the 32 countries where we operate,” Tony Gavin, executive vice president, Bimbo Bakeries USA, said.
Hundreds of companies, from fast-growing startups to large corporations, were nominated across the three award categories of Emerging Leadership in Innovation, Leadership in Sustainability, and the top award of Excellence in Food & Ag Leadership. Finalists were reviewed by a panel of judges across industry, academia, non-profits, media and the investment community.
“It’s important to recognize and celebrate the achievements of food and agribusiness companies that go above and beyond to foster a more sustainable and responsible food chain. This year’s recipients are making significant and long-lasting actions that will have positive effects for years to come,” said Paul Beiboer, CEO, Rabobank North America.
The overarching Rabobank Award for Excellence in Food & Ag Leadership honors a large-scale market leader that has demonstrated great and lasting impact in its sector: Wegmans, a family-owned supermarket chain.
The Rabobank Award for Emerging Leadership in Innovation is given to a fast-growing young company that is addressing challenges and market gaps in F&A with a novel and disruptive business model: Pivot Bio, a company that provides a microbial nitrogen crop nutrition solution to farmers.